USE OF RETENTION INDEX (RI) TO EVALUATE MASS CHROMATOGRAM OF POST-MORTEM BLOOD

The upper phase shows a mass chromatogram of 1.50g of post-mortem blood taken from an intoxication victim and extracted by headspace. The lower phase shows a chromatogram of standard solution containing a series of n-alkanes starting with butan (4 carbon atoms, thus RI =400) up to tridecane (13 carbon atoms, thus RI=1300).

From the data shown in the figure, the retention indices ( RI) of the detected peaks in the blood are calculated, and then compared with the retention indices reported in the literature for the candidate target analytes as selected from their mass spectra. The peak with the RI=606 is chloroform, the one with RI =701 is chloral hydrate, and the one with RI =858 is 2,2,2-trichlorethanol.

Conclusion: The victim had probably died from an overdose of chloral hydrate. The findings of chloroform and trichloroethanol are explained as chloral hydrate metabolites.

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